The next gen of personal finance management apps that leveraging AI and account data to provide a personalized and tailored financial overviews.
Project Overview
NelloAI is an app designed to make personal finance management simple, accessible, and even enjoyable. The goal of the project was to transform complex financial features into something intuitive and meaningful for a wide range of users. My role focused on UX design, from early workshops and user research to prototyping and testing.
The app was initiated by a team at Neonomics, who were frustrated with how legacy financial services often prioritize corporate interests over consumer needs. In today’s climate of rising living costs and a market driven by overconsumption and spending-oriented algorithms, NelloAI was built to offer an alternative.
By combining modern open banking technology with AI, NelloAI empowers users to take control of their finances. The mission is to help people build the lives they want and spend money on what truly matters to them.
My role
I worked at Neonomics as a junior designer, during which I had the opportunity to be involved in the entire product development process, from initial concept to launch. While the app and its concepts are still evolving through testing and iteration, what you see here reflects my contributions leading up to the launch. It was an incredible experience to see the project take shape and play a role in bringing it to life.
I had the privilege of working with a talented and creative team and collaborated closely with my amazing manager, Jahde Vaccani, on both research and design. I was entrusted with significant responsibility early on, which helped me grow my skills even further.
The project was not only a fantastic learning experience but also an incredibly fun journey!
Process & Methods
Because of confidentiality, I cannot share all details of the internal process. Instead, I will highlight the key methods and my contributions.
Research: Before diving into this project, we conducted extensive research, including benchmarking, industry analysis, competitor reviews and interviews.
Workshops: We had several workshops where participants prioritized and organized app features, providing insight into what mattered most to them. We also ran sessions where users shared associations with various features, terms, and tools, followed by open discussions on their expectations for a personal finance management app. These workshops helped us explore tasks, brainstorm ideas, ask critical questions, and engage in meaningful discussions about the topic.
User Testing: Early usability testing of initial wireframes ensured a user-centered approach. Conducted iterative testing rounds, first with feature limitations, later allowing more freedom. This showed how user preferences shift depending on constraints. Throughout the project, we held frequent internal meetings and collaborative workshops, fostering a strong, unified team effort.
Wireframing & Prototyping: Created low- and mid-fidelity prototypes to explore navigation flows and test usability early.
Iteration: Collected feedback from both users and stakeholders, then refined the design to balance business goals with usability.
Challenges
Balancing complexity with simplicity: The app had to handle advanced features without overwhelming users.
Designing for diverse age groups: Different expectations meant we had to find common ground that worked for everyone.
Technical limitations: Some design ideas had to be adjusted to fit within development constraints.
Time constraints: We aimed to have a concept ready to launch by a specific date for another important event, which limited the time available for research and testing.
Insights & Learnings
Users consistently preferred a clean dashboard and easy navigation over advanced personalization features.
Clear differences emerged between age groups. Younger users prioritized speed and customization, while older users valued simplicity and guidance.
Choices and compromises highlighted how users made decisions. When limited to only four features, they focused on essentials. When given full freedom, they explored more advanced or experimental functions.
Outcome
These are some of the concepts we launched
Reflection
This project strengthened my ability to work in an iterative, user-centered way within a business context. I learned how important it is to test early, visualize choices and compromises, and adapt solutions to different user groups. It also taught me valuable lessons on simplifying complex solutions to make them intuitive and user-friendly. Most importantly, I saw the value of involving users in decision-making, even when business needs are complex.
It was both exciting and educational to work under tight deadlines, while advocating for the role of research, workshops, and user testing in shaping effective solutions. I also greatly enjoyed collaborating with a talented and skilled cross-functional team, full of great ideas and perspectives.
